A not-always-sentimental vacation to the ’50s, ’60s, ‘and
’70s. Bring your swimsuit.
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Downeyoshun
by Art Young
Genre: Recent Historical Family Fiction
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Sally Osterhoff is a
genius. When she grows up, she wants to be a mathematician, a teacher, and a
carpenter; and she plans to swim in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
Her mother has other ideas, and will emotionally and
physically abuse Sally to fit them. After all, she only wants what is best for
her child. But between her father trying his best, the family next door who
practically adopts her, and her Aunt & Uncle down in Ocean City where she
spends her summers, Sally just might have the support and love she needs to
make all of her dreams come true.
Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights struggles, the
Vietnam War, and the early Feminist movement, the story explores the power of
found family, and how unconditional love can come from the least expected
places. Downeyoshun is a not-always-sentimental vacation to the ’50s, ’60s, and
’70s. Bring your swimsuit.
Praise about
the book:
“Arthur Young will introduce you to a special world, East
Baltimore, and its vacation spot, Ocean City, with his
warm Downeyoshun. Not that life is perfect – not all mothers are
kind, and the VietNam war casts a shadow. But you’ll feel as if you’ve met new
friends as you follow his characters through the challenges of growing up. In
his skillful telling, the fabric of a family and a neighborhood comes to life.
You may even find yourself becoming a Baltimore Hon!”
–Pamela Zerba, Contributor Atheists
in America, Writer, Creative York Contest Winner
“Be prepared to fall in love with one of the most
endearing literary characters of the century thus far. Ultimately, this is a
book about family, the one you’re stuck with and the one you make. By the end,
Sally will feel like part of yours. You will thoroughly enjoy your trip
Downeyoshun.”
For the first day of school, Mother laid out the clothes I would wear: a yellow and white dress, black Mary Janes, white anklet socks with tiny flowers, and added what looked like a small briefcase in a gray and white plaid. “What’s that for?” I whispered.
“That”, Mother said, ” is for carrying your schoolbooks and your lunch. It has your name inside here.” She raised the flap. “Do not lose it or let it get it dirty.”
“Yes, Mother”, I whispered.
“Look at me”, she commanded. “You will speak to no one except your teacher. And all that she needs to know is your name. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“You will especially not speak to that child next door if she is there. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Mother.”
I really hoped Marie would be there.
After breakfast, Mother pulled me along down several blocks until we got to school. She stopped at the office to get directions to the classroom and marched me past a row of other kids and their mothers and through the door. Marie and her mother were at the front of the line. A smiling woman at a large desk said “We’re not quite ready -”
Mother ignored her. “I am Mrs. Osterhoff. This is Sally Osterhoff. You will see to it that she stays clean and neat and away from the other children, especially that child just outside the door.”
The teacher looked confused and annoyed. “Don’t they get along?”
Mother stared at the teacher. “I do not want them to ‘get along’ at all. Keep them apart. I will return at 3 o’clock.”
“Just a moment, Mrs. …?” The teacher did not look happy.
“Mrs. Osterhoff.”
“Mrs. Osterhoff. All the children in this class will learn together and play together – NO EXCEPTIONS.” She caught Mother in mid-word. “They will also learn common politeness, if they haven’t learned it at home.” Mother’s jaw was clenched. “One last thing, Mrs. Osterhoff: Kindergarten is half-day. You will be here at 11:45 to pick up your daughter.”
I recognized the look Mother was giving the teacher, but the teacher ignored it as if it wasn’t there, and walked past Mother, opened the door, and smiled. “And good morning to you, Mrs. Osterhoff.”
An alarm bell rang and made me jump. The other kids and their mothers came in, and Mother fought against the tide and left. The teacher walked over to Marie and her mother. “Hello, I’m Mrs. Harris, and you are?”
“Carmella Giametti. And this is Marie.” Marie smiled over to me and wiggled her fingers in a wave. I smiled back.
“Well, now, it looks like these two would like to sit together, don’t you think?” asked Mrs. Harris.
Miss Carmella laughed. “Yeah, that’s fine with me.” She patted Marie on the shoulder. “Go say hi to her.”
Marie rushed over, grabbed my hand, and shook it. “Hi Sal!”
“Hi Marie.”
“I got an uncle named Sal”, she told me.
“It’s really Sally. Mother didn’t let me finish.”
Mrs. Harris clapped her hands together and we all looked at her. “Now, everyone choose a desk to sit at, and then it will be time for all the Mommies to go home until lunchtime.” One boy started to cry and grabbed his mother. She turned pink and rolled her eyes.
After the mothers had left, I looked around me. I had never been with other kids before except Billy. Some were neatly dressed; others were a little rumpled. Two of them were very busy picking their noses. We were all quiet, and waiting to see what would happen next.
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Art Young is a Baltimore-born U.S. Navy / Vietnam / Agent
Orange veteran and cancer survivor. He was once a carny in a traveling gadget
show, and has worked as a fire-extinguishing-system installer and serviceman, a
brewery’s route delivery salesman, flexographic press operator, licensed
boiler-plant engineer, and a storyteller. He much prefers the last.
Welcome to my stop in the virtual book tour for A Murder Of Convenience organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Author Kathleen Buckley will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!
And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A Murder Of Convenience
By Kathleen Buckley
Genre: Historical Mystery
Synopsis
Ellen Cuthbert’s husband, Randolph, is now the Earl of Keswick’s heir. Their marriage is a sham, and Randolph’s mistress, Lydia, is present at the house party. When she is found murdered in a locked room, all the evidence seems to point to Ellen. And how could the murderer have escaped the locked room except by witchcraft? Sir Hugh accompanies his cousin, a magistrate, to the scene of the murder. They investigate, appalled to find their childhood friend Ellen appears to be the chief suspect. Hugh’s lack of prospects years ago prevented their marriage. Now if he cannot find the real murderer, there may be only one final service he can perform for Ellen to spare her a slow death at the end of the hangman’s rope.
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Enjoy this peek inside:
At the inn, they found the doctor had confiscated the landlord’s keys to the unused cellar storeroom “by order of the magistrate.” His sharp eyes twinkled as Seaton had given no such order.
“Otherwise the servants would be taking the customers down for a look at the poor lass at a penny a head, no doubt.” He had sent for his oil lamp to give enough light.
“I will do surgery by candle if I must, but for something like this, there’s nothing to match whale oil.”
“Excellent, Doctor, when even a small detail may matter.”
On a long table, wide enough to allow the oil lamp to be moved around Lydia Forsyth’s remains, the body lay curled in the same posture in which she had been found. Hugh and his cousin stood on either side of Lockhart. The woman might have been vivacious in life.
Death had wiped away every sign of intelligence, wit, and kindness.
The doctor ran his fingers over the right side of her skull. He took longer about it than many would have thought necessary, given that the blow had clearly been fatal. Hugh needed no medical training to know that.
“She was struck at least several times with the candlestick, the blows not having fallen all in the same place. The murderer meant to make sure of her.”
“Do you mean to perform an autopsy?” The foreboding in Wallace’s voice made it plain he hoped the answer would be negative.
~~~~~
About Author Kathleen Buckley:
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One day after coming home from first grade, Kathleen Buckley set about writing her own dictionary but quickly realized it would take too much time, so she read a book instead. Possibly Space Cat.
After a career which included customer service, light bookkeeping, working as a paralegal, and a stint as a security officer, she began to write as a second career, rather than as a hobby. Her first historical romance was written after re-reading Georgette Heyer’s Georgian/Regency romances for the tenth or twelfth time and wondering if she could do something like that. Apparently she could, as her eleventh will be released on 3/24/2025. As a change of pace, it’s a murder mystery, but still set in the mid-1700s (but still with some romance).
Warning: no bodices are ripped in her romances, which might be described as “powder & patch & peril” rather than Jane Austen drawing room. They contain no explicit sex, but do contain the occasional den of vice and mild bad language, as the situations in which her characters find themselves sometimes call for an oath a little stronger than “Zounds!”
Genre: Time Travel Romantic Suspense, Historical Mystery
In this riveting
conclusion to the Always and Forever trilogy, Ryan’s
classified new case awakens Siena’s greatest fears. As shadows of the past
deepen and close in, only Ryan’s fulfillment of his ancient sacred vow can
dispel them.
1566, ULSTER, IRELAND. Neave lives in fear as Queen Elizabeth’s
obscene bounty on Aedan’s head turns him into a target. Undeterred, Aedan
enlists his allies, the Antrim Scots, in his relentless fight to free Ireland
from English rule. But when greed and treachery hide in plain sight, nothing is
as it seems. After Aedan’s plans crumble in a shocking twist, he makes a solemn
oath to heartbroken Neave—one he may have to honor in another lifetime.
2013, MIAMI, FL. When Siena discovers the truth about Ryan’s new
case and their tragic past life, she realizes he is in mortal danger.
Tormented, she begs him to quit, but Ryan is determined despite an inner voice
urging him to do right by her. Unwilling to be sidetracked, he resolves to deal
with it later and on his own terms. But when a ruthless cartel takes Ryan
hostage, he just might run out of time.
Will Ryan uphold his vow to Siena, or are they destined for disaster… again?
If you love time travel romance with elements of reincarnation, suspense,
mystery, drama, and a touch of magic, don’t miss the grand finale of the Always
and Forever trilogy!
In this
gripping sequel to the award-winning novel, Through the Veneer of Time,
echoes of Siena’s past life lure her into a shocking indiscretion that
threatens to destroy her marriage. She alone can undo the damage, but this
chilling revelation is only the beginning of her battle.
1564, ULSTER, IRELAND. After Aedan’s diplomatic visit to Queen
Elizabeth’s court results in his compulsory divorce and arranged marriage,
Neave’s violent unraveling drives her into another man’s arms. But in seeking
revenge, Neave falls into a perfect trap set by Aedan’s enemy. By the time she
learns the truth, it’s too late to undo the damage to Aedan, herself, and the
hard-won peace in Ulster. When despair makes her reckless, the price will be a
lifetime of infamy, confinement, and isolation from what Neave treasures
most—Aedan and her son.
2011, WASHINGTON D.C./DALLAS, TX. It seems like a reasonable
plan—Siena finishing her final mural in D.C. while Ryan starts his new job in
Dallas. But when Siena meets Ryan’s new FBI partner, an inexplicable fit of
jealousy sends her on a downward spiral. To make matters worse, the present
mirrors the past when her visions take a startling turn. Consumed by
insecurities, Siena takes a drastic step, which proves a catastrophic lapse in
judgment. When her self-fulfilling prophecy unfolds in a devastating inversion
of the past, Siena’s actions could cost her the two people she most fears to
lose—Ryan and their baby.
Will Siena and Ryan beat their disastrous odds, or is their marriage
foredoomed?
If you love time travel romance with dark undertones, as well as elements of
domestic suspense, psychosexual thriller, reincarnation, and a touch of magic,
don’t miss the second installment of the Always and Forever trilogy!
“An achingly beautiful story that lingered in my thoughts long after
I’d finished the last page.” — Jodi Jensen, Author of Sophie’s Key
“Bell had me feeling ‘all the feels’ as I feverishly turned each
page.” — Five Star Review from Reader Views
“Vera’s brilliant storytelling comes out in full force again in this
exceptional sequel.” — The Bookish Historian Book Reviews
“It’s literally taking me a few days to finally come down from the
rollercoaster. (I mean that in the best way).” — Irish Booklover Book Reviews
“BEWARE… this book will leave you with an awful hangover and thinking
about it for days long after you’ve finished.” — Kindle Babe Book Reviews
“Bell’s vision is imaginative, sexy, and sweeping. The author offers a
distinctive voice for the two time periods (and) populates the novel with
complex and flawed characters.” — BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly
“Not only a satisfying continuation of Siena’s growth process, but a
story that simmers with intrigue, passion, historical insights, and thoroughly
engrossing revelations.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
For fans of
Diana Gabaldon and Susanna Kearsley comes a riveting new tale of time travel
and romantic suspense: A haunted painter’s past life visions are not the
creative inspiration they seemed. They’re a harbinger of her ancient revenge
vow, and her FBI husband won’t find the serial killer until she fulfills it.
But it may already be too late.
1559, ULSTER, IRELAND. When a young noblewoman Neave McConway weds
the newly elected King of Tyrone, Aedan O’Neal, the couple’s rare union of love
and passion becomes the talk of the region. But Aedan’s bold rule and fierce
defiance of the English crown threaten his powerful enemies, and they’ll stop
at nothing to crush his growing influence. After Aedan rides off to fight
against the English occupiers, Neave suffers a shocking attack that will
forever alter both their lives — as well as the lives they have not yet lived.
2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. While mural artist Siena Forte battles a
creative block, her FBI husband Ryan Casey struggles with a serial killer case.
When research leads Siena to the practice of Past Life Regression, she stumbles
upon irresistible inspiration. But after her art exposes her to a vicious
ancient adversary, she discovers the true reason for her past life visions.
They’re a harbinger of her centuries-old revenge vow, and the serial killer
can’t be stopped until she fulfills it. But there is another person from the
past with unfinished business—her husband.
Will Siena and Ryan settle their long-overdue score, or will the past repeat
itself in a chilling parallel?
If you love time travel romance with elements of reincarnation, suspense,
mystery, fantasy, and a touch of magic, don’t miss this thrilling read!
“A true masterpiece. It is a book that once read is impossible to
forget.” — Highly Recommended Award of Excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
“The intricate and creative plot is one you will not want to miss.
Anxiously awaiting book two.” — Five Star Review from Reader Views
“Vera Bell’s novel successfully combines historical fiction, romance,
and a contemporary thriller. “ — Historical Novel Society
“Past and present lives collide in Vera Bell’s hauntingly beautiful
debut. A sexy, sensuous tale.” — Julie McElwain, national award-winning journalist and author of A
Murder in Time
“Bell mixes romance, mystery, and history to take the reader on
an adventure across centuries.” — BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly
“Against the backdrop of love, hate, and a killer’s threat lies the
attraction of a thriller’s fast pace and heated twists.”
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Vera Bell is a
Georgia Author of the Year nominee and the award-winning author of the
“Always and Forever” trilogy, set in sixteenth-century Ireland and
present-day United States. Book One, “Through the Veneer of Time,” is her debut
novel. She wrote it after trying past life regression and finding herself
immersed in a world so captivating, she couldn’t let it go. A former commercial
artist, she lives in Atlanta with her husband, two teenagers, and one fur baby.
Her favorite place to write is on her porch, overlooking a pond lined with
river birches and magnolias. The topics she never tires of are bygone eras, our
universal human condition, and love that transcends time and space.
Want to be in the know? Join Vera’s private mailing list to get first dibs on
cover reveals, sneak peeks, new releases, free giveaways, and much more
at https://www.verabellauthor.com.
Billy Tarwater thought he had left the troubled past behind, until a series of ominous incidents threaten to destroy everything he and his wife hold dear. Someone is out to get them, and he is determined to uncover the truth before it’s too late. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he realizes that the dark forces at play may be connected to the events of seventeen years ago. And to the Atlanta Child Murders. Join him on a heart-pounding journey of suspense and intrigue as he navigates the dangerous waters of his past and fights to protect the ones he loves. In a race against an unknown enemy, Billy must confront his darkest fears. Will he be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will he and his wife become victims of the sinister forces at play?
Praise for You Will Know Me by My Deeds:
“Mike Cobb’s You Will Know Me by My Deeds is a taut, propulsive tale set against the harrowing backdrop of the 1980’s Atlanta Child Murders. Entertainingly addictive and menacing.” ~ Robert Gwaltney, award-winning author of The Cicada Tree and Georgia Author of the Year “Mike Cobb’s Atlanta-based historical fiction easily holds its place on the bookshelf next to Caleb Carr’s Alienist novels.” ~ Joey Madia, author of Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of M and the Stanton Chronicles historical fiction series “Mike Cobb’s enthralling and meticulously-researched mystery, You Will Know Me by My Deeds, sets a lofty standard for contemporary thrillers. Set in the heart of the ‘new’ south, Cobb’s vividly-wrought tale propels his readers through the tumult of an era and illuminates race relations at a difficult moment in Atlanta’s modern history. Grab this book for a satisfying and uplifting read.” ~ Steve Klein, Civil Rights Activist “I couldn’t put this book down and had to finish it in one sitting! Once again Mike Cobb has crafted a plausible story with strong characters, a sense of place, and rich historical detail regarding a tragic chapter of my beloved Atlanta’s history – the missing and murdered children from 1979 to 1981.” ~ Lisa Land Cooper, Author and Historian “Mike Cobb’s prose is powerful, and his plot is dark, complex and full of surprises. You will find a rich, earthy view of old Atlanta complete with all its beauty, weaknesses and the diverse attitudes of the Old South.” ~ Jeff Shaw, author of Who I Am; The Man Behind the Badge and Lieutenant Trufant “A bracing historical thriller that further enriches this top-notch series.” ~ Kirkus Reviews “This is an excellent book with an engaging mystery and an intriguing conclusion. It’s clear that research is paramount to Mike Cobb’s writing. I could really identify with how he wove true crimes into this fictional one. I look forward to reading more from him.” ~ Ed Begley Jr., Award-winning actor, producer, environmental activist, and author of To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step On It!: A Memoir
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You Will Know Me by My Deeds Trailer:
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Book Details:
Genre: Historical Crime Fiction
Published by: Waterside Production Publication Date: January 2025 Number of Pages: 444 ISBN: 978-1962984720 Series: Sequel to The Devil You Knew
Monday, December 14th, 1981 Two blurred headlights, ragged halos in the rearview, broke the Stygian pitch. Cynthia gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles blanched. The rain cascaded down the windshield in gelid sheets. The wiper blades thwacked the edge of the Suburban’s cowl like a metronome. For the past twenty-four hours, Atlanta had been beset by a heavy downfall and scant visibility. She struggled to make out the road ahead. For the first five minutes of the drive, Billy Jr. and Addie had jabbered away in the back seat like sugar-high Energizer Bunnies. Then they sank into oblivion. Just like that, she thought. Nothing like a weekend sleepover at Grandma Alice’s to wear the kids out. She stopped at the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood. The barbershop to her left was long gone, a victim of white flight, its plate glass windows boarded up with fly-posted plywood. She could almost hear the snip snip of Mr. Batson’s clippers beckoning from yore. The snap of Sam Jepperson’s shoeshine cloth beseeching a generous tip. The redolence of Bay Rum and Kiwi polish. Not that she ever got her hair cut—or her shoes shined—there. But her father Cecil dragged her along on more than one occasion with the promise that they’d go next door for a vanilla shake if only she’d sit like a “good girl” and watch him get trimmed. She had often wondered whether he did things like that just to piss her off. His way of controlling. Or did he really want her company? The car that had been following her since she pulled out of Billy’s mother’s driveway lingered half a block behind. When the light changed, she turned left onto Glenwood. She looked in the mirror. The car turned left and kept its distance. Probably nothing. At the Gresham Avenue intersection, she glanced over at what had been Harry’s Army Surplus. Now, like the barbershop, just another padlocked casualty. A long-suppressed memory welled up. Saturday, September 28th, 1963. She was thirteen. So capricious and carefree, like most girls her age. She left the East Atlanta Pharmacy by the front door and headed west toward Moreland Avenue. Just past Harry’s, she looked back and saw a car following her. When she stopped, it stopped. When she went, it went. That had been her last recollection from before the erasure—what she later came to know by its medical name. Localized psychogenic amnesia. For seventeen years, the next thing she had remembered was waking up at Grady Hospital with an officer standing guard outside her door. The nurse had said You’re not Cynthia now. You’re Patti. With an i. Or something to that effect. She would later learn that the police had contrived the alias to protect her from her abductor. It wasn’t until October a year ago that everything began coming back to Cynthia in a torrent. What had been an eradication of five weeks of her past, leaving in its wake a deep, dark abyss, had begun to come back in a matter of days. This wouldn’t have happened without Billy’s help. And his dogged determination. Did she welcome the recovered memory? There were times when she wondered whether knowing was better than incognizance. Closure would feel right. But knowledge alone doesn’t bring closure. And could closure ever come for the families of the girls who didn’t survive? Why had she made it out alive, and the others hadn’t? She inched her way down Glenwood past Moreland Avenue. At the Boulevard intersection, she glanced across the street at Fire Station No. 10. A half dozen firemen were huddled under the overhang in front of the station. For a moment, she thought she saw Billy’s brother Chester standing there smoking a cigarette and chatting up the others. But Chester hadn’t lasted a year as a fireman before bugging out for the merchant marines, thinking he could avoid the draft. He ended up on the SS Mayaguez ferrying supplies through combat zones in Vietnam. Came home intact but with a chip on his shoulder. She turned right. She drove up Boulevard past Memorial Drive, hugging the eastern edge of Oakland Cemetery before assuming a northwesterly course past the shuttered Fulton Cotton Mill and through the railroad underpass. She looked back. The car continued to follow her. That’s when she realized that it wasn’t nothing. Perhaps she should have taken the expressway. But she had chosen not to. Visibility was bad enough on the surface roads. As she neared the intersection with Ponce de Leon, the light turned yellow. She accelerated and took a hard left, hoping the car would stop on red. It didn’t. When she turned right on Peachtree, then left on Fifth, the driver continued to dog her. Cynthia eased into The Belmont courtyard. The other car stopped briefly at the turn-in then crept down Fifth. She craned her neck, trying to get a good look at it. At the driver. But she could see little through the relentless downpour and the fogged windshield. She parked the Suburban at The Belmont entrance. She waited for the rain to abate enough for her to get the kids inside without a drenching. Then she hurried them into the lobby under her flimsy throwaway umbrella made for one. She closed the umbrella and hooked it on her wrist. She held Billy Jr. and Addie’s hands tight, lest they slip on the marble floor. They crossed the threshold into the elevator cab, leaving a trail of dripping water behind. She punched 4. When the doors opened, Billy was standing in the fourth-floor vestibule. He was in his light beige mackintosh and floppy yellow rain hat. “Clairvoyant, are we?” Cynthia said. “I saw you out the window and was on my way down to help. But you beat me to it.” He placed his hand on her upper arm. “Cynthia, you’re trembling.” “It’s just the biting cold. I’m fine. I need to get these rug rats out of their wet clothes and into their PJs. And then sit for a while. You can park the car if you don’t mind.” “Of course I don’t mind. That’s the least I can do.” She held out the umbrella. “Want this?” “No thanks.” He knelt in front of Billy Jr. and Addie. “How’s Grandma?” “Feisty as ever,” Cynthia answered. “She sure knows how to cut a look. But the kids adore her, and that’s what matters most. And compared to my mother…let’s just say you’re the lucky one and leave it at that.” When Billy returned, Cynthia was already curled up in her favorite overstuffed chair with a glass of Merlot. Her socks and Clarks slip-ons lay pell-mell on the floor about her. The open umbrella stood atilt in the corner of the room. “That was quick,” he said. She took a sip. Notes of black cherry, of vanilla and sandalwood, teased her throat. “I’m sure the kids are deep into sugar-plum dreams by now. Grab a pour and join me. There’s something you need to know.” Billy, glass in hand, plopped into the chair beside her. “What is it?” “I need to tell you about a flashback I had. And about a car.” He listened as Cynthia told him about the car that had followed her from his mother’s house. “Could you tell what kind it was?” he asked. “I couldn’t tell a thing, Billy.” She ran her finger along the chair’s piping, tracing in her mind the path she had taken. “All I know is it looked big. Maybe a sedan.” “I don’t think you should be out late at night by yourself, Cynthia. It seems like every day more shit happens. Carjackings. Murders.” “At least Wayne Williams is locked up.” She searched her thoughts. “Those poor children. And their grieving families.” Billy’s hesitation baffled her. He just sat there for a minute without saying a word. He finally spoke. “Tell me about the flashback.” “The whole thing with the kidnapping came rushing back tonight. It hit me hard, just as I passed the old army surplus. I guess it was my being right there where my thirteen-year-old self had been lured away.” She held her glass in the air. “More, please.” He refilled it and topped his off. He set the bottle on the side table, leaned over, and took her hand. “I’m so sorry, Cynthia.” “It wasn’t what I expected. I thought I had finally put it all behind me, with Kilgallon…excuse me, the Reverend Kilgallon…dead and Sam Jepperson exonerated and freed. But now I’m not so certain. Maybe it’ll haunt me forever.” “I hope not. I just wish there was something I could do to make things better.” “I’ll be okay.” “Are you sure?” “I’m sure. Life goes on, doesn’t it? And I don’t believe I have a choice in the matter.” *** Excerpt from You Will Know Me by My Deeds by Mike Cobb. Copyright 2025 by Mike Cobb. Reproduced with permission from Mike Cobb. All rights reserved.
About Author Mike Cobb:
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Mike’s body of literary work includes both fiction and nonfiction, short-form and long-form, as well as articles and blogs. He is the author of three published novels, Dead Beckoning,The Devil You Knew, and its sequel You Will Know Me by My Deeds. His fourth novel, Muzzle the Black Dog, a novella, is scheduled for release in May 2025. He is also working on Kathleen, a fictionalized account of a cold case murder from 1970. While he is comfortable playing across a broad range of topics, much of his focus is on true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction. Rigorous research is foundational to his writing. He gets that honestly, having spent much of his professional career as a scientist. A native of Atlanta, Mike splits his time between Midtown Atlanta and Blue Ridge, Georgia.
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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Mike Cobb. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy: A Detection Club Mystery Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – London, England Publisher : Boldwood Books (February 16, 2025) Paperback : 264 pages ISBN-10 : 1836175469 ISBN-13 : 978-1836175469 Digital ASIN : B0DFXWPCFP
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Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new, gripping murder case. But this time, she’s not the author – she’s a suspect…
1926 – Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London’s glittering social scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club – where mystery writers come together to share ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously. But then a fellow author’s initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is no longer just the creator of great mystery plots – she’s a player in one.
And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she’s widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to the Club’s enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case. But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it’s too late?
About Kelly Oliver
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of four mystery series: The Jessica James Mysteries (7-book contemporary suspense); The Pet Detective Mysteries (3-book middle grade); The Fiona Figg Mysteries (9-book historical cozies).
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, the first in her new series The Detection Club Mysteries just came out (February 2025).
Kelly is Distinguished Emerita Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. And currently, she is the Immediate Past President of Sisters in Crime. To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to www.kellyoliverbooks.com.
Damned Yankees is a gripping tale set during
America’s Revolutionary War, where loyalty is tested, and survival is anything
but certain.
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Damned Yankees
by Ray Deptula
Genre: Historical Fiction
Those who fight their nation’s wars are typically
those least able to avoid it.
The world was, is now, and always will be a complicated and
volatile place filled with those whose self-interests supersede more noble
aspirations.
If history has taught us anything, it is that times may
change, but human nature does not.
The competing interests and political tensions of the
formation of our country were no more or less dysfunctional than they are
today, with the best and worst of individual behavior continually on display.
Jack Halliday wants nothing more than to belong
somewhere that provides him with security and values his worth.
In an uncaring world that devours the weak, he is forced to
rely on his strongest attribute, his ability and willingness to fight, which
ironically belies his benevolent nature.
Much like the fledgling union of the thirteen original
colonies, Jack’s rebirth into autonomy constantly teeters on demise in a world
where his decisions are all he can control.
The Girl of Many CrownsbyD.H. Morris Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 305 pages Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: New Classics Publishing Release date: October 4, 2024 Content Rating: PG due to some mature subject matters, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content.
Book Description:
The true and inspiring story of a powerful knight and a run-away queen who unite to defy an empire.
King Charles, the first king of France, is beset by Vikings, rebel lords, and his brother, all seeking to take his kingdom. To strengthen his kingdom, King Charles marries his twelve-year-old daughter Judith to elderly, widowed Aethelwulf, King of Wessex. When Aethelwulf dies unexpectedly, Judith is pressed into marrying Aethelwulf’s cruel eldest son. When her second husband also dies, twice-widowed Judith refuses to accept a third arranged marriage.
As punishment for her refusal, King Charles imprisons 16-year-old Judith in one of his palaces where she is visited by her brother, Louis, and his knightly companion, Count Baldwin “Iron Arm.” When Baldwin helps Judith escape, they are hunted by her father’s men and must flee for their lives. Can Baldwin and Judith hold on to each other and their faith as they face the fury of an empire?
What is something unique/quirky about you? I acted in local theater for several years, I love Yorkies, and I lived in Germany for 12 years total.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less! Serious thinker
Do you have a favorite movie? Black and white classics
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie? The Girl of Many Crowns has already drawn attention and discussions about possible mini-series.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? A Yorkie
Stuff about the Book:
What did you enjoy most about writing this book? I enjoyed it most, discovering all the surprising historical turn of events that happened in this story. They were exciting, delightful, and hysterical. I kept telling myself you can’t even make this stuff up. Fact is stranger than fiction.
Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick? Baldwin wanted to serve his king and country and protect the people. He was truly altruistic. Judith had a similar mindset although she did it in a different way. Her original sole goal was to help her father and serve him in his kingdom, but in the end, she had to choose between her desire to serve her father and not compromising herself.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead? No, Judith was a young girl in the book.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers? Write your own family history stories. Let other descendants read about their family stories.
What is your favorite part of this book and why? When Baldwin finally tells Judith how he feels about her.
If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? I would love to meet, interview, and pick the minds of all of the characters in the book. But if there were only one, I could meet it would be Baldwin to watch him training for battle. To see his horsemanship and learn more about his battle style.
Have you written any other books that are not published? Yes. I have 1 children’s book I wrote for my children that is not published and 1 planned educational book that is my personal teaching method for teaching children to read. It has worked well for my family, friends, and neighbors. I also am starting on the Prequel to The Girls of Many Crowns. I also collaborated on writing the book and lyrics for a musical version of Pride and Prejudice.
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be? It would be spice, intrigue, maybe a hint of sweet… I guess a Sandalwood scented candle.
Audiobook Questions:
What made you decide to get the book made into an audiobook? I know several people that prefer that format and I felt that it could reach more readers by having an audiobook version.
Who did the narration on the audiobook and what made you choose them? I chose to do it myself with an AI assist as I have training in audio recording.
What goes into making an audiobook? Lots of hours of recording sessions and making sure you are in the right environment for recording.
How many audiobooks do you currently have and are there any more on the horizon? This is my first audiobook, but when I finish the prequel, I will do another audiobook.
What’s the biggest challenge about producing an audiobook? Making sure the recording is just right.
Do you prefer to listen to audiobooks or read a book? Read a book
Stuff about Writing/ Reading:
How long have you been writing? I’ve enjoyed writing ever since I was a child.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book? I use everything from the internet, to going to the library. I use every possible resource I can find including dissertations or master theses. I research the era, the food, and the medicine before I write about it. I am someone that is very uncomfortable writing about things I do not understand. So, I immerse myself in research before beginning writing.
Do you see writing as a career?
What do you think about the current publishing market? It’s a complicated market that takes a lot of time and research to understand. It’s not something easily done overnight.
Do you read yourself and if so, what is your favorite genre? I like anything well written. I am very eclectic in my reading. My favorite would probably be Historical Fiction, Mystery, and Fantasy.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? I prefer to write in silence so that I am not easily distracted.
Pen or type writer or computer? Used to always be pen, but now I have transitioned to computer.
A day in the life of the author? No two days are the same. I start my mornings with my husband and Yorkie. My husband and I like to play puzzle games together. I do my best writing in the mornings so this is a good time to write. Then I work through my schedule whether it is shopping or chores that need to be done, appointments or events I have, family management tasks, or researching my next novel. Then I end my day with doing a puzzle with my husband and relaxing with my Yorkie, Max. Sometimes we will watch a movie before we go to bed.
Advice they would give new authors? Learn to love rewriting, because that is where your manuscript goes from a good idea into a polished gem. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism, use it to make your writing better. Also remember that not everyone will understand your journey so keep working on your manuscript and keep submitting it for review.
What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring writers? This book was different as the outline was already provided for me by history. It was basically reading about the events that occurred during that year and making sense of it in my own mind, then sleeping on it, and I would write about it in the morning. If you want to write just to be a popular author, then you have to follow what the trend of the day is and do what other authors are doing. If you want to create something special and unique, then you can’t do what everyone else is doing.
What is your writing Kryptonite? Overthinking is my Kryptonite. I think you just have to start writing. The process of writing organizes your thoughts. As you get into the writing process, it all starts coming together. The initial writings are you just organizing your mind and you will most likely throw out anyways. So, if there is a phrase or anything that sparks your imagination then just start writing it.
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Meet Author D.H. Morris:
A native of San Diego, California, D. H. Morris has lived on four continents and traveled through many countries. She has four children and eleven grandchildren and currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Choral Music education and pursued graduate work in English at USU and law at the University of Utah. She is also a published playwright.
As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to research everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves talking about this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were being formed and fighting for their very existence.
Deadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) by Kate Parker
Deadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) Historical Cozy Mystery 12th in Series Setting -West End of London, Summer, 1941 Publisher : JDP Press (December 9, 2024) Print length : 303 pages Digital ASIN : B0DNNQ23F4
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Behind the spotlights and glamour lurk secrets and murder.
Amid the grim realities of wartime Britain, inside during the blackout hidden from the tatters left by the Blitz, glitz and glamour live onstage in the West End. But at one theater, The Regent, a malevolent force is causing escalating problems. Sabotage, damage and injury feed mistrust among the cast and crew.
Then during opening night, the hated director drops dead from poison, and Olivia Redmond’s colorful, kindly editor is arrested for murder. Determined to investigate, Olivia finds secrets piling up among the bodies. But which secret leads to a crafty killer who won’t hesitate to remove anyone in their way, including Olivia.
About Kate Parker
Kate Parker has long wanted to build a time travel machine. However, after several false starts, she gave up and created time travel by going back in time inside her books. Since she’s fond of murder mysteries, it is probably best that all of her travel is inside books or police from various ages would be hunting her. When not recreating old time buildings and fashions, she can be found with a modern computer and modern air conditioning in North Carolina with her daughter and a 115 lb. puppy who could just crash through any time barrier.
A must-read for
Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden
layers of Victorian England.
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The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes
Essays on Victorian England Book V
by Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Genre: Nonfiction History, Literary Criticism
Rediscover Victorian England’s forgotten history and culture.
Volume V of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes explores the
cultural, scientific, and historical allusions found throughout Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. This collection of essays unpacks
twenty-four topics mentioned in the original mysteries, from everyday details
like hats and plumbing to complex issues such as international spying, the
binomial theorem, and relations with Russia. Through such insights, readers
gain a deeper understanding of the Victorian world in which Holmes operated.
Other essays explore both the familiar and the obscure, touching on subjects
like the KKK’s presence in England, the significance of whaling, and legal
concepts like insanity and blackmail. Unique cultural topics—such as the role
of curry in the British Empire, the rise of bohemianism, and the Victorian
obsession with rejuvenation through animal hormones—reveal the rich complexity
of the era. The collection also features a bonus essay on Sarah Cushing
from The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, offering fresh insight into one
of the most sinister characters in the Canon.
Whether examining automata, wax figures, or the legal definitions of murder and
suicide, The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes provides a
compelling lens through which readers gain a deeper understanding of the
historical and social backdrop of the Holmes mysteries.
A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover
the hidden layers of Victorian England.
Sherlock Holmes, the most cerebral of detectives, finds his deductive powers
put to the test in this intriguing collection of cases. Each adventure presents
a web of secrets, clues, and deceptions. Only his highly honed observational
skills lead him to the truth.
In a locked-room murder, did the victim succumb to “The Curse of Kisin?” And
how had the daughter of Squire Northridge disappeared from her own locked
bedroom? Can Holmes, an ocean away, determine if a missing treasure hunter ran
off with Jean Lafitte’s fabled buried plunder? The disappearance of a beloved
dog is an adventure filled with whimsy and humor, as are the return of Lady
Frances Carfax and the howling dog of Baker Street.
Holmes’ unrivaled deductive powers rise to the test with each case. He shines
as the consummate master of the art of detection and will captivate from
beginning to end.
Christmas and its Victorian practices appear on one of the Sherlock Holmes adventures. “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” involves a Christmas goose. Sherlock is presented with a case where a blue carbuncle (a gemstone) is found in a goose’s neck when it is butchered for Christmas dinner. Holmes and Watson go on a merry chase to find who put the stolen stone in the goose.
The term carbuncle has referred to several stones over the years. Originally, it was another name for a ruby, but also included garnets—or almandine. Most of these stones vary in shades of red to a reddish brown. A very rare form of garnets is blue and display hues of green in addition to the blue.
Eating goose at Christmas was a relatively new tradition for Victorians. The observance of the holiday only returned to England during the 1800s. The Puritans (yes, they had them in England too) suppressed the holiday’s celebration beginning in the 1600s. In the 1800s, the traditions were resurrected thanks to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the Royal Family who introduced German traditions (such as the Christmas tree) with an emphasis on family and good cheer.
The spirit of the season also filled Holmes himself. When he finds the thief, he decides to let him go with a promise of remaining on the straight and narrow.
Anyone with a birthday in January? Your birth stone is the garnet.
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Liese
Sherwood-Fabre is an award-winning author known for her meticulously researched
works of historical fiction and mystery. With a background in social sciences,
she brings a unique depth to her characters and settings, particularly in her
acclaimed series The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, which
explores Victorian England through the lens of the famous detective’s world.
Her essays delve into the cultural and historical intricacies of the era,
uncovering hidden details that enhance her stories’ authenticity. Her fiction
weaves real historical events and social insights into suspenseful plots,
creating immersive narratives that captivate fans of both history and mystery. An avid traveler and lifelong scholar, Dr.
Sherwood-Fabre combines curiosity and expertise to craft stories that transport
readers to fascinating past worlds filled with intrigue and insight.
As the war continues to rage in Europe, Election Day approaches in Newbury. Among other inequities, the Newbury City Council makes it difficult for local women to obtain business licenses even for home-bases businesses. Mrs. Odboddy decides to run for the vacant city council seat, but she has no idea what political obstacles she will face. The trouble starts, first with disasters in her home, to violence and racism against her friends, and then theft charges are filed against her!
To make matters worse, her granddaughter’s old boyfriend has returned to town declaring his unwanted, undying love. His heroic responses to multiple adverse events affecting the family make it difficult for Katherine to send him packing.
Agnes suspects her political opponent is behind all the trouble, including the state’s attempts to remove their beloved ward, Mattie. It seems that Agnes is up against a conniving opponent who will stop at nothing to prevent her winning the election. How can she prevail against such sinister deeds? Is winning an election worth it when her family is at risk?
Join Agnes as she faces overwhelming odds in her efforts to bring much needed change to Newbury.
About Elaine Faber
Elaine is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC), Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA), and Elk Grove Writers Guild (EGWG). She has published eleven cozy mystery novels, a humorous historical fiction series, a cozy cat mystery series, an anthology of short cat stories, a paranormal mystery, and multiple short stories published in twenty-one independent anthologies.
Three of Elaine’s “Mrs. Odboddy” fiction novels have won NCPA book awards. Her cat novels have received Cat Writers Association Excellence in Writing Certificates, and she has won numerous awards for her short stories through various venues and contests.
Elaine volunteers at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Elk Grove, CA. She lives with her husband, and Truffie, who contributes inspiration for many of her cat-related stories and novels.
